OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to identify and prioritize control measures of violence against Healthcare Workers (HWs) using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Additive Ratio Assessment (F-ARAS).
BACKGROUND: Occupational violence is a pervasive problem in healthcare centers. Reducing violence against staff is one of the challenges for healthcare managers.
METHOD: At the first stage, the most common criteria and control options for violence against HWs were identified and extracted using a review of previous studies. At the next stage, criteria for selection of control measures were prioritized using the FAHP. Finally, control measures of workplace violence were prioritized using the F-ARAS method.
RESULTS: Results of the FAHP indicated that safety and efficiency were the most important criteria.
RESULTS of the F-ARAS also revealed that "increasing number of security personnel" and "training staff" were the best recommendations for controlling violence against HWs.
CONCLUSION: Based on expert's opinions, administrative measures are the optimal ways to control violence at health centers; therefore, it is suggested that violence control programs should be more focused on administrative measures. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: These results could assist nursing management to take best strategies for controlling occupational violence based on multi-criteria decision-making methods.
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Language: en
Keywords
Control strategies; Fuzzy Additive Ratio Assessment (F-ARAS); Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP); Healthcare workers; Occupational violence; Ranking